illuminate

Verb

illuminate (third-person singular simple present illuminates, present participle illuminating, simple past and past participle illuminated)

1. (transitive) To shine light on something.
   • Nero illuminated his gardens with live Christians soaked in tar, and we were now treated to a similar spectacle, probably for the first time since his day, only happily our lamps were not living ones.1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC
   • A light that is one foot away from the subject's face will completely illuminate the face, but leave the rest of the body softer and darker.2006, Michael Grecco, Lighting and the Dramatic Portrait, Amphoto Books, →ISBN, page 40

   Synonyms:

   belight

2. (transitive) To decorate something with lights.
3. (figuratively, transitive) To clarify or make something understandable.
   • The situation, as it was, made it more difficult for him to leave. Yet it illuminated the very reasons why he had to go.1986, Craig G. Harris, “Weekend Plans”, in Joseph Beam, editor, In The Life: A Black Gay Anthology, page 138

   Synonyms:

   bring home, clarify, elucidate, explicitize, sort out, straighten out

4. (transitive) To decorate the page of a manuscript book with ornamental designs.

   Synonyms:

   illustrate

5. (figuratively, transitive) To make spectacular.
   • Hodgson's approach may not illuminate proceedings in Poland and Ukraine but early evidence suggests they will be tough to break down.2012 June 2, Phil McNulty, “England 1-0 Belgium”, in BBC Sport
6. (intransitive) To glow; to light up.
   • Red diode in button illuminates when camera runs at speed set in five-digit speed selector.1994, Sylvia Carlson, Verne Carlson, Professional Cameraman's Handbook, →ISBN, page 494
   • Say my name / and every color illuminates. / We are shining / […]2011/2012, "Spectrum", written by Florence Welch and Paul Epworth, performed by Florence and the Machine, released on the album Ceremonials (2011)

   Synonyms:

   gleam

7. (intransitive) To be exposed to light.
8. (transitive) To direct a radar beam toward.

Adjective

UK/ɪˈl(j)umɪnət/Australia/ɪˈlʉmənət/

illuminate (comparative more illuminate, superlative most illuminate)

1. (obsolete) Enlightened, illuminated, made bright.
   • February 28 1630, Joseph Hall, The Hypocrite
     do ye see an illuminate elder of the anabaptists rapt in divine ecstasies?
2. (figuratively) Enlightened spiritually, divinely taught or inspired; in technical use, converted, baptized.
3. (archaic) Learned, erudite.

Noun

UK/ɪˈl(j)umɪnət/Australia/ɪˈlʉmənət/

illuminate (plural illuminates)

1. Someone thought to have an unusual degree of enlightenment.